SL Police delay in Allaipiddy investigations unacceptable- Judge

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 13:27 GMT]Kayts district court Judge, Mr. Jeyaraman Trotsky accused the Sri Lanka Police of attempting to derail the investigations into the Allaipiddy killings in Jaffna islets, when the case was taken up at the Kayts Court Tuesday, legal sources said. Judge Trotsky in the earlier hearings gave 15 days extension to the special Committee lead by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) level officer Mahes Perera to submit a report detailing the investigations into the killings. Mr Mahesh Perera, instead, sent a letter to the judge citing reasons for the inability to submit the report and did not appear in Court, legal sources in Jaffna said.

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is alleged to have killed more than thirteen civilians in Jaffna Islets of Allaipiddi, Velanai, and Puliyankoodal in Jaffna Islets. Mr Mahes Perera was appointed by the Sri Lanka Government to lead a committe to investigate into the killings that took place in Allaipiddy in on 13 May 2006, and other killings in Velanai and Puliyankoodal.

In the letter sent to the Judge, Mr Perera said that he cannot travel to Jaffna as the ground situation was not safe. He also cited difficulties in having access to the witnesses and in finding new witnesses to conduct his investigations, for his inability to submit the Court-requested report.

Mr Remedius, attorney for the victims, told the judge, that no effort has yet been made by the Sri Lanka Police to even contact the witnesses who gave evidence earlier on the Allaipiddy massacre.

Judge Trotsky said that he is informing the Attorney General (AG) of the ineffectiveness of the newly appointed committee lead by Mr Perera, and the committee's reluctance to proceed with the investigations. He also has recommended that the Attorney General's department take up the investigations.

Sellathurai Lillimalar and her daughter, Sellathurai Violet, close relatives of the eight civilians murdered in Allaipiddy, had told Judge Trotsky during the deposition they gave on the 19 May that they can identify the two Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers responsible for the murder of their relatives.